The Minister of Justice, Marcel Ríos, has been the target of various criticisms after her statements about the machi Celestino Córdova, a Mapuche community member sentenced to 18 years in prison for the crime of the Luchsinger Mackay couple and who for a few weeks obtained the benefit of going out on Sunday and quarterly.
in conversation with The Mercurythe Secretary of State was asked whether or not Córdova was a political prisoner, to which Ríos stated that “it is not up to him to pronounce on whether the community member is a political prisoner or a murderer.”
Statements that were not liked by the opposition or by some sectors of the ruling party, including Undersecretary Miguel Crispi, who distanced himself from the minister’s position.
After her remarks, Minister Ríos took advantage of the session of the Mixed Constitutional Commission to specify her words, alluding to the fact that she answered another question to the media, and that she is not unaware of the conviction against the machi.
“I would like first to clarify regarding the case of Celestino Córdova, both for this ministry and for this minister, he is a common prisoner who is convicted of homicide,” he emphasized.
“When faced with a question in the newspaper (The Mercury), the response was in line with respect for judicial rulings, but in no case was it unaware of this person’s 18-year sentence for homicide and arson,” he concluded.
